Automatic water supply control



April 2, 1953 E. B. JOHNSON 3,083,724

AUTOMATIC WATER SUPPLY CONTROL Original Filed Jan. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3/ INVENTOR.

54/?! .5. Jo /V50 BY M025 April 2, 1963 E. B. JOHNSON 3,033,724

AUTOMATIC WATER SUPPLY CONTROL Original Filed Jan. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 alllllllllrlllmmf z q' lll INVENTOR.

" 5424 5. JOH/I/JUA/ 40 A BY April 1963 E. B. JQHNSON 3,083,724

AUTOMATIC WATER SUPPLY CONTROL Original Filed Jan. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 $383,724 Patented Apr. 2, 19%3 3,083,724 AUTQMATEC WATER SUPPLY QSNTRGL Earl P. Johnson, 4, Box 252, Freehold, NJ. Qriginal application .ian. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 735,261. Di-

vitled and this application Feb. 9, 1961, Eaer. No. 83,595

12 Claims. (ill. 137-404} The invention herein disclosed relates to control of the supply of water to various Water consuming or disposal utilities, such as watering troughs, poultry fountains, flush tanks and the like.

Objects of the invention are to provide means for controlling admission of water to a tank or other holder to restore or replenish the supply as it is removed or disposed of, which will be of simple low-cost construction, consist of but few sturdy parts not likely to get out of order and which can be relied on to continue in operation indefinitely unattended and without requiring servicing or other attention.

These and other desirable objects have been accomplished in the present invention through a novel form of float structure arranged by its rising and falling action to control the flow from a supply source.

Other important objects accomplished and further novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts are set forth and will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a number of diflerent practical embodiments of the invention but it will be appreciated that structure may be further modified and changed in regard to such illustration, all within the true intent and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

FIG. 1 in the drawings is a top plan view of one form of the invention applied to the control of a watering trough for poultry or other livestock.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the trough, on substantially the plane of line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken longitudinal sectional view, on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the control float in empty, buoyant condition opening the valve mechanism to refill the trough.

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the trough refilled and the float filled from the trough and thereby loaded and sunk in the valve closing position.

FIG. 5 is a broken vertical sectional view showing the invention applied to control'of water in a flush tank, with the tank full and control float lowered holding the inlet valve mechanism, in this case a jet and float carried closure, as before, in closed position.

FIG. 6 is a broken vertical sectional view of the same parts, in the same position as in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a similar view but showing the float in the buoyant condition, opening the valve means, in the act of refilling the tank.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a tank installation illustrating a modification in which the control float is hinged on a tube open to the interior of the float and thereby providing a connection for emptying and filling the float to cause it to open and shut ofl the flow of liquid from the supply jet.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged broken sectional detail on substantially theh plane of line 99 of FIG. 8 showing the flow connection form of mounting for the float.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of the parts appearing in the tank filled position shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a similar view but showing the float lifted by a connection from the tank emptying lever and in the buoyant condition holding the valve open.

In the several forms of the invention first illustrated,

supply of liquid in a container, which may be considered a tank, is automatically restored as used, by float valve mechanism which operates the reverse of the usual action, rising to admit supply flow and lowering to shut ofl the flow.

In the first illustrated embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 4, the tank is in the form of a watering trough 30, the valve mechanism is in the form of a jet 31 and closure disk 32 as in my previously issued patents; 2,452,305, October 26, 1948; 2,662,503, December 15, 1953; 2,737,967, March 13, 1956, and 2,836,151, May 27, 1958, and control is eflected by an open float 33 pivoted for rising and falling movements in a float chamber 34 which is in communica tion with the trough.

The pivotal mounting of the float is effected in this instance by a flexible diaphragm 35 of rubber or the like, separating the float chamber from the trough and through which there is extended a short tube 36 which is fixed in the lower portion of the float and is secured in the diaphragm or washer by clamp nuts 37.

This tube serves both as part of the hinge mounting for the float and as a means for emptying and filling the float for controlling the valve action.

The float chamber is shown as a rectangular compartment at the some level at the end of the trough and communication between the two is provided by an overflow opening 38 in the end wall 39 separating the float chamber from the trough.

By this opening 38, water filling the float chamber may overflow into the tank or trough.

The water supply furnished by the jet opens into the bottom of the float chamber. This assures that the float chamber will be filled and kept filled despite emptying of the trough.

The disk 32 forming the element which cooperates with the jet to form the valve is shown attached to the bottom of the float directly over the jet relatively close to the hing center so that the float will have considerable leverage for holding the disk in closed position on the jet.

In the normal, filled position of the trough or tank, with the hinge tube providing free communication between the tank and float, the float will be filled up to the level of the water in the tank, as shown in FIG. 4, and thus loaded to be held securely seated on the jet.

As water lowers in the tank it drains at the same rate from float 33 through hinge tube 36 into the tank.

While this is occurring water in the float chamber remains constant imparting buoyancy to the float as fast as water drains out of the float until a point is reached as shown in FIG. 3 where the float rises, opening the supply valve and refilling the tank by overflow at 38 from the float chamber into the tank.

The float, remaining in communication with the tank through tube 36, receives liquid from the tank and finally, with the tank refilled, settles to the lowered position shown in FIG. 4 closing off the liquid supply.

The flush tank form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is generally similar to that described, the same reference numerals being employed for corresponding parts.

In this form the supply pipe 49, is utilized which carries the jet as a stem for supporting the float mechanism at the proper level in the flush tank 41.

The float drain and refilling tube 36 in this case as before opens directly into the tank to drain the float into the tank and to be filled by rising liquid in the tank.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the tank filled by overflow from the float chamber 34 with the float loaded with water from the tank and holding the supply valve closed.

In the refilling operation illustrated in FIG. 7 the supply water entering the float chamber overflows over the plication Serial Number 785,201 filed end of the chamber at 42 into the tank. To quiet this flow of water a channel shaped trough is shown at 43 oo e .44 e e d wft e. r qwn eninaz and P ov ed. with a v e,fi5 .,pi. ft ;te s ing t t 6 9 quiet and spread the downflow of water entering" the tank;

Iri'the odifie'd form of tank equipment illustrated in FIGS}; to 11 th float 33 ishingedly mounted inlthe float hamber. 0% l bf f x end n gr th ewe po tion of the float chamber and open at oneor both ends t6 e interior t et Q U 'Ihi's't'ube', at a point withinthe' float, has an opening 48 providing jcommunicatibn between the float and This struc ur Prov e a; m ch c lhinge m u for the" float in place of the flexible hinge mount first described and it also provides the niea ns of communica tion between tank and float for filling the float fro'nrthe tank inthe refilling operation and for emptying the float inthe' tank draining operation, r H p p FIGS. 8 and 1 0 illustrate the normal filled position of tank and float with supply yalye closed and FIG. 11 shows the float lifted either by buoyancy orpin this case, possibly by'chain49 shownconnectedwith the tank flushmeans. eop e v ve and ect efi n of n The'chain 49 provides" a, positive means for lifting the float at the-same time that the ball valve 51'is lifted to t fi l v .7 With this construction therefore the'float will be lifted to open the supply valve as soon asthe flush valve is open'e'd'and'withont any delay for the float'acqui'red buoyancy necessary to openthe supply valve. The chain 49' is especially desirable whenthe tube 47 is not perfectly water-tight in thewalls of the float chamher 3}. This because the waterljevel in thefloat chambi' may, in course'of time; ,fall tothelevelin the float and there will'be no buoyancy by water in the chamber. It will be notedthat underthese conditions a slow'leakball yalvernay allow the tank level to tan so low that bo h t e chamber and flda m y ru ne ly y an the jet valve be kept closed substantially by the weight-in"- fl vofthe float. v, v,

1n all forms of the invention the structure and ope a tion are relatively simple anK with M! parts at all'likely to get out of order. All mechanism canbe produced and installed at low cost and is designed to continue in o eration indefinitely Without requirin any particular attentionor servicing. a h.

, In the construction employing the sen fte float chamber 34, the ,float and chamber ma be madefinCQ Iesponding rectangular shape with thechamber justenough larger than the float to assure suflicient lifting buoyancy.

keeps the size of the parts down enabling thedevice to be used in places where space may be limited as n eauje s.

The invention is snitedto many as chief than those shown and the tank, as it has been termed, may take many ,forms.

'opened to quickly admit supply of liquid and remains fully opened during the filling operation so as not to restrict or retard replenishment of the supply. Also, it is 'ofadvantage in the case of a Sinau le'ak at the ball valve in the flush tank forms of the invention, such leak will notistart in-flow of liquid. Thus a slow leak will not keep a continuing in-flow or permit overflowing of the talik- I v This application is a divisional application of my ap- January 6, 1959,

now Patent No. 2,982,298.

The invention claimed is:

1. Automatic water supply control comprising the combination of a tank for storing a supply of liquid to be replenished as used, a hollow float in the tank, means for mounting the float for vertical-pivotal movement in the tank, a liquid supply source including a floatcontrolled valve associated with said float and connected with said tankand arranged tolbe closed, when thefloat is lowered and to be opened when the float rises intthe tank, and liquid flow connections for filling said float from liquid rising in the .tank and for draining liquid front the floatinto liquid lowering in the tank tothereby cause said floatto rise open said valve-to refill I e tank as liquid the tank is lowered, means for lif ing said float. independently of floating action by'the water in the tank 2 Automatic was. u ply. a -n51 campriaag' the combination of a tank for stern a supply of liquid to be replenished as used, a float chamber connected to ever, flow into said tankfl to thereby refill itself in the act of refilling t ta k; aheu w fl t, iafied gnrisi sl r ing movement and lowering; sinking moyementinsaid float c am r a i u pn ys w i u n Fial means actuated by said ne'atann connected to supply liquid'to said' float chamber en, rising, floating movem t of'the float and to shut on supply of liqu'id to the floa't chamber on lowering, movement of the float, and liquid flow connections between said non flexible means for separating. the float chamber from the tank and mounting the flow connections, the latter arr d d i n f m t ne iitq h i. mm lowering of liquid in the tank to pass liquid from the tank into the float on risingof liquid the tank thereby to cause said float to rise and open flow into the float chamber and tankwhen liquid the tank is realised and to lower and hut oflflew into the nan iiambi and tank'whenthe tankisrefilled a, if

Automatic water supply control comprising the cornbination of a tank for storing ajfsupply of liquid to replenished asused, afloat chamber within saidtank ar ranged for overflowinto the ajt th'e highest level of the liquidwithin said chamber, al ollow floatinthechaml ai for mb t n e a f rvrt 1 P YQ l m ems t ber i i upp y om ind i ling' a float-controlled yalve associated s'aidfloat connected with said chamber and arranged to beflclo'sed when the float is lowered im to be spare when the float rises in the chamber, and liquid flow connections forfillingsaid float from liquid rising in the tank and for draini i m he ba in ia 'id p a i j i the a k to thereby cause saidfloat to rise and open said valye to refill the tank as liquid in thetahk is lowered and to cause said float to lower shut-elf 116w into the float chamber and tank when thefltank is refilld.

4. The invention according to claim}, said means bem t lb ,d l h bn h h ha be l which s i fl is pi q a ymoi n e s with sa d u e Pro i e with a side openin within the neat and in li uid new communication with said tank r 5.. 'lhe invention'accordiiigito ela'im 3; said'flda't chamb b i al i q t at th new im t to new 1? t k; nd mea f rain flii g and qi f fifig the r qv rj mlthq at sh m nib the a 6. The invention according td claini 3 flv ts nz ze isssnqs tedt v wi the vtiflliiiil 2 w i hna an at ,n vi s a sh bi e 511d lifi the overflow from the float chamber into the including a downwardly directed flunie eirtending from the float hambsri tqt s 7-. T e, in t n. es td fi e m 3, h t h flpat smberi hsrthi h t b i. Qft t' 9 permit overflow into the tank, and means for smoothing a as .qt i a ..fihejbt flwi qe he. .fida l ai iiito the tank including a downwardly directed flume extending from the float chamber into the tank and a flow smoothing vane at the entrance end of said flume.

8. The invention according to claim 3, with means for lifting said float independently of floating action by the Water in the tank.

9. The invention according to claim 3, with said overflow into said tank directed over a portion of the upper edge of said chamber.

10. Automatic water supply control comprising the combination of a tank for storing a supply of liquid to be replenished as used, a float chamber connected to overflow from within the chamber into said tank at the highest level of the liquid within said chamber, a hollow float arranged for rising, floating movement and lowering, sinking movement in said float chamber, a liquid supply source including valve means actuated by said float and connected to supply liquid to said float chamber on rising, floating movement of the float and to shut ofl supply of liquid to the float chamber on lowering, sinking movement of the float and liquid flow connections between float and tank arranged to drain liquid from the float into the tank on lowering of the liquid in the tank and to pass liquid from the tank into the float on rising of liquid in the tank thereby to cause said float to lower and shut off flow into the float chamber and tank when the tank is refilled, and to cause said float to rise and open said valve to refill the tank as liquid in the tank is lowered.

11. The invention according to claim 10, the tank having a wall separating the interior of the tank from the float chamber, said wall being provided with a flexible diaphram for pivotally mounting the float for rising and lowering movement within said chamber, said liquid flow connections including a tube extending from within the float through said flexible diaphragm into liquid flow com- 3;

munication with the tank.

12. Automatic water supply control comprising the combination of a tank for storing a supply of liquid to be replenished as used, an upwardly open float chamber connected to overflow into said tank to thereby refill it self in the act or" refilling the tank, a hollow float arranged for rising, floating movement and lowering, sinking movement in said float chamber, a liquid supply source including valve means actuated by said float and connected to supply liquid to said float cham er on rising, floating movement of the float and to shut off supply of liquid to the float chamber on lowering, sinking movement or the float and liquid flow connections between said float and tank arranged to drain liquid from the float into the tank on lowering of liquid in the tank and to pass liquid from the tank into the float on rising of liquid in the tank thereby to cause said float to rise and open flow into the float chamber and tank when liquid in the tank is reduced and to lower and shut off flow into the float chamber and tank when the tank is refilled and with a tube extending through the float chamber and forming part of said liquid flow connections, the float being pivotally supported by said tube and said tube having an open communication with the interior of said float.

References tlited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,386 Hunter Dec. 29, 1868 251,125 Mehring Dec. 20, 1881 352,047 Dewey Nov. 2, 1886 384,119 Blatchley June 5, 1888 826,882 Powers July 24, 1906 2,608,207 Le Van Aug. 26, 1952 2,784,735 Barr et al Mar. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 827,894 Great Britain Feb. 10, 1960 

1. AUTOMATIC WATER SUPPLY CONTROL COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A TANK FOR STORING A SUPPLY OF LIQUID TO BE REPLENISHED AS USED, A HOLLOW FLOAT IN THE TANK, MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE FLOAT FOR VERTICAL PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN THE TANK, A LIQUID SUPPLY SOURCE INCLUDING A FLOAT-CONTROLLED VALVE ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FLOAT AND CONNECTED WITH SAID TANK AND ARRANGED TO BE CLOSED WHEN THE FLOAT IS LOWERED AND TO BE OPENED WHEN THE FLOAT RISES IN THE TANK, AND LIQUID FLOW CONNECTIONS FOR FILLING SAID FLOAT FROM LIQUID RISING IN THE TANK AND FOR DRAINING LIQUID FROM THE FLOAT INTO LIQUID LOWERING IN THE TANK TO THEREBY CAUSE SAID FLOAT TO RISE AND OPEN SAID VALVE TO REFILL THE TANK AS LIQUID IN THE TANK IS LOWERED, AND MEANS FOR LIFTING SAID FLOAT INDEPENDENTLY OF FLOATING ACTION BY THE WATER IN THE TANK. 